In brief | Big Island & State | 1-23-14

In brief | Big Island & State | 1-23-14

In brief | Big Island & State | 1-23-14

Hawaii Island police are requesting the public’s help locating a 7-month-old Jasmine Evans and her 34-year-old father, Eli Evans.

Police looking for missing Kona man

Big Island police are searching for a 37-year-old Kailua-Kona man, who was reported missing.

Robert Keawe Lopaka Ryder was last contacted on Thanksgiving Day. He is 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 150 pounds with green eyes and short brown hair, according to the Hawaii County Police Department.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call the police department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or Officer Eric Uehana Sr. at 889-6540. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo, and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

Missing Hilo teen found on Oahu

Big Island police have located 16-year-old Jake Miyake-Kamahele of Hilo, who was was reported missing last summer.

He was found Wednesday in good health on Oahu, according to the Hawaii Police Department.

About 7:09 p.m. Monday, police received a report from a 37-year-old Pahoa woman that her estranged husband had removed their infant daughter, Jasmine Evans, from the home of a relative, claiming he was heading to Kona. He has not been seen since. The infant’s mother is concerned for the safety and well-being of her child.

Eli Jonathan Evans is described as Caucasian, about 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighing 185 to 190 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes. He may be operating a silver sedan but police have yet to confirm this information.

Jasmine is a Caucasian female with blond hair and blue eyes, about 24 to 26 inches long and weighing about 15 pounds.

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section and Juvenile Aid Section are continuing the investigation, which is currently classified as a missing persons case.

Anyone who may know the whereabouts of either Jasmine or her father should call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Clarence Davies of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 961-2384 or cdavies@co.hawaii.hi.us or Detective Jefferson Grantz at 961-8810 or jgrantz@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

There have been 66 major accidents this year compared with 69 during the same period in 2013. To date, there have been three traffic fatalities on Big Island public roadways compared with two at this time in 2013. To date, none of the fatalities has been related to drugs or alcohol, according to police.

Waimea man facing theft charges

Hawaii Island police have located 24-year-old Brandon Kelii Paulino-Pawai of Waimea, who was wanted on a bench warrant and for questioning in connection with a theft investigation.

Paulino-Pawai was arrested Friday night and charged with contempt of court, according to the Hawaii County Police Department. He was also arrested on suspicion of theft and taken to the Kona police cellblock while detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section investigated allegations that he removed jewelry during an August residential burglary in Waimea and then attempted to sell it to a merchant in Waikoloa.

On Saturday, detectives charged Paulino-Pawai with second-degree theft and attempted second-degree theft, according to police. He was released from police custody after posting $4,000 bail.

High surf warning, advisory remain in effect

A high surf warning remains in effect for west-facing shores of Hawaii Island through 6 a.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu. A high surf advisory is also in effect for the island’s north-facing shores.

Forecasters called for surf ranging in height from 12 to 18 feet along the Kona and Kohala coasts, according to the service. The warning also extends south along the Ka‘u coast.

The service categorized the surf’s impact as “extreme,” warning of giant breaking waves and strong currents that will make it dangerous to approach the shoreline as well as harbor entrances. Forecasters also warned that significant coastal inundation may occur, possibly resulting in property damage.

Along north-facing shores stretching from about Mahukona in North Kohala to about Kaimu Beach Park in Puna forecasters called for surf ranging in height from 15 to 20 feet.

The service categorized the surf’s impact along north-facing shores as “moderate” and advised the public to expect strong breaking waves and strong rip currents that can make swimming dangerous, use extreme caution and heed all advice given by ocean safety officials.

Police say missing Puna boy last seen in Nanawale

Hawaii Island police said a 14-year-old Puna boy who was reported missing was last seen Saturday in Nanawale. Police also provided an updated description of Santana Kobayashi noting that he is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 130 pounds. The department had stated the boy was 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighed 100 pounds.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo and may be eligible for a reward.

Solar installations increasing in Hawaii

HONOLULU — Solar photovoltaic installations in Hawaii continued growing at a strong pace last year, according to a news release issued Wednesday by Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric Light Co.

Some 17,609 solar installations with a capacity of more than 129 megawatts were added to the companies’ grids in 2013, up 39 percent from installations during 2012.

As of Dec. 31, 40,159 solar photovoltaic systems, with a total capacity of 300 megawatts of power, were on the companies’ grids, according to Hawaiian Electric. The majority of the systems are located on Oahu where there are 29,558 systems capable of producing up to 221 megawatts of power. Ten percent of Oahu residents have rooftop solar.

According to Hawaiian Electric, 7 percent of HELCO customers have solar on the Big Island, where there are 5,355 photovoltaic systems and a capacity of 38 megawatts. Eight percent of Maui Electric customers have rooftop solar.

Of those systems installed, 96 percent take advantage of net energy metering, which allows customers with rooftop solar to receive full retail credit for solar power they generate and send to the utility that can be used to offset their electricity use.

Linking Oahu, Maui grids would save money

HONOLULU — Hawaii’s energy administrator said connecting Maui and Oahu’s electrical grids using an undersea cable would save consumers more than $420 million over several decades.

Administrator Mark Glick told the Public Utilities Commission at a meeting on Oahu Tuesday linking the grids would increase the amount of renewable energy that could be tapped.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Glick said the cable would also allow the Oahu and Maui grids to operate more efficiently.

The commission is gathering public comment as part of its investigation into whether an undersea cable would be in the public interest. The commission has scheduled a similar meeting on Maui for today.

The proposed cable would allow a two-way flow of power between Oahu and Maui from both renewable and traditional sources of energy.

Arraignment held for man charged in Kauai murder

LIHUE, Kauai — A Kauai judge has set an April trial date for the man charged with murder in the shooting death of an 88-year-old man.

Trial for Giovanni Corpuz is scheduled for April 21. He’s been held without bail in the death of Amby Cruz, who was found shot in the head at his home on New Year’s Day. Corpuz was arrested in Taiwan, while on his way to the Philippines.

If convicted, Corpuz faces extended sentencing for inflicting serious injuries to a person 60 years old or older.

Congressman says he supports Guam missile system

HAGATNA, Guam — A congressional delegation leader visiting Guam says he supports the long-term deployment of a missile system there.

The Virginia Republican is chairman of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee. He voiced his support for the missile defense system the U.S. sent last year to Guam, a U.S. territory and strategically important military outpost 1,500 miles south of Tokyo.

The missile defense system — called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense — is designed to intercept missiles during their final stage of flight.

Guam delegate Madeleine Bordallo sought a permanent deployment of the system after North Korea mentioned Guam as a potential missile target last year.

Company cited in American Samoa job-site fatality

HONOLULU — The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a company in connection with a job-site fatality in American Samoa.

OSHA launched an inspection after the death last July during a crane operation in Leone Village.

According to OSHA, a signalman motioned for the crane operator to stop. OSHA said the crane hook was near a high-voltage power line, and the worker was electrocuted when he approached the crane and touched it.

Violations include failure to determine safe working distances when workers were operating a crane close to high-voltage lines.

The company has declined to comment on the proposed fines and violations. OSHA said the company can contest the findings.

Guam man sentenced to 2 life terms

HAGATNA, Guam — A Guam man has been sentenced to serve two life terms in connection with a case of attempted murder. Raymond Tedtaotao was sentenced this week.